The Gruffalo

This show has now closed, click here for a listing of current and future London shows

NOTE: The sequel to this show, The Gruffalo's Child, will be at The Arts Theatre in London from 28 November 2007 to 6 January 2008 - click here for more information.

Children's Play closed 7 January 2007

Arts Theatre Great Newport Street, London

"A Gruffalo? What is a Gruffalo?" ... "A Gruffalo. Why don't you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws."

Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in search for hazlenuts in this magical, musical adaptation of the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Upon meeting a singing and dancing fox, a mustachioed Mexican snake and various other potential predators, rather than being eaten by them, the Mouse scares them away with tall stories of an imaginary monster friend - but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined?... The Gruffalo in London promises songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged three years and upwards and their adults! The perfect holiday treat!

"Children love this big scary monster of a show" The Independent

Tall Stories' production of The Gruffalo returns to London's West End this Christmas following a successful summer season at The Criterion Theatre from 19 July to 21 August 2005

"A spirited and imaginative play" The Guardian 2004

"Thankfully, children's theatre is not confined to the Christmas season, and this West End theatre is enterprisingly putting on performances of a revival of the Tall Stories theatre company's adaptation of the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book. Roundly aimed at children aged five or under, this offers an excellent introduction to theatrical conventions such as song and dance, mime and audience participation, while also encouraging them to listen and stay in their seats... The young ones I spoke to were entirely satisfied." The Sunday Times

A theatrical treat for the under-nines" The Sunday Express

"The Gruffalo, to those of you who don't know Julia Donaldson's tale word-perfectly, is a short, nicely rhyming story beloved of tenny-weenies, amusingly stretched with song and dance into an enchanting introduction to theatre... The moral of the story is that tiny creatures can get the better of their biggers, given guts and imagination. It's an important lesson vividly illustrated." The Mail on Sunday

"Tall Stories have transformed a well-loved story into an exuberant, funny show" Time Out

"A funny and endearing adaptation bu Tall Stories [who have] turned this simple, but clever tale into a 50-minute play with a mixture of catchy songs, slick choregraphy and good jokes... Of course, even 50 minutes can be too long in a dark theatre for some children - but The Gruffalo miraculously succeeds in finishing while they still want more." The Sunday Telegraph